Cigarette lighter having orientation sensitive valve actuation means

ABSTRACT

A cigarette lighter is disclosed having orientation sensitive valve actuation means. The lighter comprises a housing which defines a main fuel reservoir and an auxiliary fuel reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air and with the main fuel reservoir. A wick extends from within the auxiliary fuel reservoir to ambient air. Valve means are provided for controlling the flow of fuel between the main and auxiliary fuel reservoirs. Spring means bias the valve means towards a valve closed position. Valve actuation means are provided for inhibiting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to a valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is disposed aside or below the main fuel reservoir, and for permitting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to a valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is elevated above the main fuel reservoir.

Lockwood et al.

[ CIGARETTE LIGHTER HAVING ORIENTATION SENSITIVE VALVE ACTUATION MEANS [75] Inventors: John C. Lockwood, Atlanta; Harry L. Vaughan, Lawrenceville, both of [73] Assignee: Scripto, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 500,043

[52] U.S. Cl. ..431/321; 431/152; 137/38 [51] Int. Cl. F23D 3/18 [58] Field of Search 431/149, 150, 152, 276,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,515,092 7/1950 Miller 431/150 2,680,962 6/1954 Lipic et a1 431/152 2,986,027 5/1961 Lockwook 431/277 3,547,566 12/1970 Tamarin 137/38 Aug. 12, 1975 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmNew'ton, Hopkins & Ormsby [5 7 ABSTRACT A cigarette lighter is disclosed having orientation sensitive valve actuation means. The lighter comprises a housing which defines a main fuel reservoir and an auxiliary fuel reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air and with the main fuel reservoir. A wick extends from within the auxiliary fuel reservoir to ambient air. Valve means are provided for controlling the flow of fuel between the main and auxiliary fuel reservoirs. Spring means bias the valve means towards a valve closed position. Valve actuation means are provided for inhibiting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to a valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is disposed aside or below the main fuel reservoir, and for permitting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to a valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is elevated above the main fuel reservo1r.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU AUG] 21975 SHEET PATENTEU AUG I 2 I975 FIG 4 PATENTED BYS 3,899,286

CIGARETTE LIGHTER HAVING ORIENTATION SENSITIVE VALVE ACTUATION MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to pocket size lighters such as those commonly used today in lighting cigarettes, and particularly to lighters of the type which employ dual fuel reservoirs.

In order to minimize fuel evaporation many lighters today employ a relatively small, auxiliary fuel reservoir from which a wick and a vent extend to ambient air. Such lighters also employ a relatively large, main fuel reservoir which communicates with the auxiliary reservoir through a valve that ordinarily is closed thereby sealing off the main fuel reservoir from ambient air. To perform a lighting operation such cigarette lighters are normally inverted and the valve manually actuated thereby enabling fuel to gravitate from the main fuel reservoir into the auxiliary reservoir. The lighter is then reoriented to a generally vertical position and a spark struck adjacent the wick.

Though lighters of the type just described have functioned well in most environments, they have often failed to operate satisfactorily where subjected to substantial changes in ambient air pressure. In aircraft cabins, for example, a decrease in ambient air about such a lighter causes an accompanying decrease in pressure within the auxiliary fuel reservoir but not in the main reservoir which is sealed from the auxiliary reservoir and ambient air. Thus, upon inversion of the lighter in such an airborne aircraft environment of decreased air pressure the differential in pressure between reservoirs often causes a gushing of fuel during fuel transfer operations onto the outer surface of the lighter and onto the hands of the user. This gushing of fuel creates a potentially hazardous condition since the user may manually strike a spark before realizing that an overflow condition exists. In addition to the hazardous condition such a spilling of fuel tends to soil the hands of the user and the exterior of the lighter and adjacent clothing in which it may come into contact.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a lighter of the type having a plurality of fuel reservoirs with improved fuel transfer control means.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter having a relatively small or auxiliary fuel reservoir from which a wick extends to ambient air and a relatively large or main fuel reservoir in fluid communication with the auxiliary reservoir through a valve means with improved valve control means for inhibiting a gushing of fuel during fuel transfer from the main to auxiliary reservoir when the ambient air pressure is substantially less than the pressure within the main fuel reservoir.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter with orientation sensitive valve actuation control means which permits valve actuation when the lighter is oriented in a substantially vertical position but which inhibits valve actuation when the lighter is not so oriented. This valve orientation means thus requires the user to actuate the valve with the lighter in the vertical position, which allows equilibration of the differential air pressure between the two reservoirs so that upon continued activation and then inversion of the lighter, transfer of fuel may be accomplished without the aforementioned gushing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lighter having relatively simple and inexpensive orientation sensitive valve actuation control means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form of the invention a lighter is provided having a housing defining a main fuel reservoir and an auxiliary fuel reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air and with the main fuel reservoir. A wick extends from within the auxiliary fuel reservoir to ambient air. Valve means are provided for controlling the flow of fuel between the main and auxiliary fuel reservoirs. Spring means bias the valve means to the valve closed position. Valve actuation control means are also provided for inhibiting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to a valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is disposed aside or below the main fuel reservoir, and for permitting movement of the valve means from the valve closed position to valve open position when the auxiliary fuel reservoir is elevated above the main fuel reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in cross section, of a lighter embodying principles of the invention in one form.

FIG. 2 is a sectional end-on view of a fragment of the lighter shown in FIG. 1 with the lighter oriented in a substantially vertical position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional end-on view of the fragment shown in FIG. 2 with the lighter oriented in an inverted position.

FIG. 4 is a side view in cross section of a portion of a lighter embodying principles of the invention in another form.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of a portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in cross section, of a lighter embodying principles of the invention in yet another form.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views in cross section of a portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 6 illustrating a sequence of valve operations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now in more detail to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cigarette lighter having a pivotally mounted lid 10 atop a housing 12 which defines a main fuel reservoir 14 and an auxiliary felt filled fuel reservoir 15 of a size substantially less than that of the main fuel reservoir. A small vent 16 provides air communications between the auxiliary reservoir and ambient air encompassing the lighter housing. A wick 18 also extends through the housing from within the auxiliary reservoir into ambient air within lid 10. A passageway 19 provides fluid communications between the two reservoirs.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 the lighter is seen to include a valve for controlling the transfer of fuel between the main and auxiliary fuel reservoirs. The valve includes a plunger 20 mounted within a channel 22 which communicates with an exterior surface of housing 12. A conical valve tip 24 is formed on one end of the plunger disposed within the confines of the main fuel reservoir. A metallic annulus 25 is secured about the plunger in abutment with tip 24. A resilient washer 26 is secured snugly about the plunger with one planar end thereof in abutment with annulus 25 and with a central portion of another end 28 thereof in abutment with a valve seat 30 formed integrally with housing 12.

Another resilient washer 32 is positioned about plunger 20 within channel 22 in abutment with a first step 33 within the channel. A metal annulus 34 is also placed about the plunger in abutment with washer 32. A metallic eyelet 36 is press-fitted about an enlarged plunger section 38. A button 40 extends from plunger section 38 out of one end of channel 22. A compression spring 42 is compressibly disposed within channel 22 about the plunger between annulus 34 and eyelet 36. A second annulus 45 is disposed loosely about a minimum diameter portion of the eyelet between button 40 and a maximum diameter portion of the eyelet extending radially from the plunger. The loose fit of the washer enables it to move radially about the plunger in and out of engagement with a second step 48 formed by an eccentric bore in an upper surface of channel 22 as the orientation of the lighter is altered.

Operation of the just described valve actuation and control means may be better understood by reference to FIGS. 1-3. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the lighter is positioned in a generally vertical orientation which causes washer 45 to gravitate upon the lower surface of channel 22 or upon the upper surface of eyelet 36, depending on the particular dimensions of the washer and channel. In this position the washer does not overlay step 48 which enables the entire valve plunger to be moved axially within chamber 22 upon manual depression of the button 40 against the bias provided by compression spring 42. As button 40 is depressed the plunger will move axially down through channel 22 bringing washer 26 out of engagement with valve seat 30 thereby establishing fluid communications between the two reservoirs. This fluid communication enables the air pressure within the two reservoirs to become equalized both with respect to each other and to ambient air. With this equalization of pressure the lighter may be inverted while button 40 remains depressed thereby enabling fuel within the main reservoir to flow between washer 26 and valve seat 30, through channel 19, and into the auxiliary reservoir. When the auxiliary reservoir is substantially full of fuel the lighter is reoriented back into a generally vertical position and a flint struck causing that portion of the fuel soaked wick 18 disposed in ambient air to flame.

The just-described procedure is a correct one for use of the lighter. In the event, however, the user does not follow this procedure but instead inverts the lighter prior to depression of button 40, washer 45, loosely fit about eyelet 36, will gravitate into the position shown in FIG. 3 overlaying step 48. With this orientation of the washer, depression of button 40 is arrested by washer contact with step 48 before plunger 20 urges washer 26 off of valve seat 30. This prohibits any transfer of fuel between reservoirs from taking place while the lighter is oriented in an inverted position which in turn prevents any gushing of fuel that otherwise might occur into the auxiliary reservoir and onto the exterior surface of the lighter through vent 16. That button 40 will not depress may be sensed by the user who then will reorient the lighter to a generally vertical position enabling washer 45 to gravitate back to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 whereupon plunger 20 may be depressed to open the fuel transfer valve.

In FIGS. 4 and a cigarette lighter is shown embodying principles of the invention in another form. The

lighter includes a main fuel reservoir 50 and an auxiliary fuel reservoir 52 in which is disposed a wick 53 which extends to the exterior of lighter housing 55. A valve is provided for opening and blocking a channel 56 which communicates between the two reservoirs. The valve includes a plunger 58 having a resilient sealing means member or washer 60 rigidly mounted thereto in abutment with a mounting plate 63 secured in abutment with the plunger tip 65 disposed within the main fuel reservoir. Axial movement of the plunger enables the resilient sealing member 60 to move into and out of abutment with a valve seat 66.

In this embodiment plunger 58 is seen to include two parts which are movable relative to one another in telescoping fashion. The outer part is in the shape of a semi-cylindrical cup 68 having a planar surface normally positioned outwardly of housing 55 where it is accessible for manual depression. A relatively weak compression spring 70 is mounted within the cup to bias the two plunger parts axially apart a distance approximating the diameter of a ball 71 movably housed within the outer cup shaped part. A second, relatively strong compression spring 73 is mounted within a channel 75, which communicating to the exterior of housing 55, in abutment with an annulus 76 which in turn abuts a resilient washer 78 seated against a channel step 79 about plunger 58.

It should be noted that the aforementioned distance of separation between the plunger parts is minimal, being measured between a shoulder 80 and a shoulder confronting surface 81 of the other plunger part. Shoulder 80 is located at the lowermost part of a backing plate 80 secured to the inside planar end of the cup shaped part. Thus, the shoulder is normally positioned by spring 70 a distance from surface 81 approximating that of the diameter of ball 71. With this dimensional relation, when ball 71 is gravitated to the position shown in FIG. 4 with the lighter oriented in a generally vertical position, depression of the button provided by cup shaped member part 68 causes both parts of the plunger to be moved axially, in unison, thereby opening the valve. On the other hand, should the lighter not be in a generally vertical position ball 71 will not be located between shoulder 80 and surface 81 whereby manual depression of the button provided by part 68 causes that plunger part to telescope over the other plunger part. Though this action is opposed by spring 70, the force of the spring is insufficient to overcome the bias provided by relatively strong compression spring 73. Accordingly, in this nonvertical orientation the annular end 83 of part 68 will merely be brought into abutment with step 86 without imparting movement to the other plunger part. To alter this situation the button must be released and the lighter reoriented to a generally vertical position enabling ball 71 to reassume the location shown in FIG. 4 whereupon plunger depression will serve to actuate the valve.

With reference next to FIG. 6-8 yet another embodiment of the invention is shown. Here, the lighter is seen to include a housing 90 having a lid 91 secured thereatop by means of a pivot pin 92 to which leaf spring 94 is secured. Housing 90 defines a main fuel reservoir 95 which communicates through a port 96 to an auxiliary fuel reservoir 97 in which one end of a wick 98 is disposed. A two-part plunger is provided comprising a cylindrical member 100 into an upper hollow portion of which is telescopically disposed a button member 101 supported upon a relatively weak compression spring 103. A relatively strong compression spring 105 is mounted about and in engagement with the cylindrical plunger member and a housing wall 106 adjacent port 96.

The cylindrical plunger member 100 has a solid, cylindrical segment which projects downwardly through port 96 onto which is secured a mounting plate 108 and a resilient sealing member 109. The upper portion of plunger member 100 is hollow and includes a surface having a central depression 111 therein positioned in axial alignment with a central, cylindrical pendant 114 which extends downwardly from an upper, conical section of plunger button member 101. The upper conical surface of plunger member 101 provides an accessible push button surface which, upon actuation, compresses spring 103 as it approaches the plunger member 100. When the lighter is in a generally vertical orientation as depicted in FIG. 6 a ball 115 gravitates into depression 111 beneath pendant portion 114. With this disposition depression of the button plunger member 101 by rotation of lighter lid 91 transmits a downward force upon plunger member 100 through pendant 1 l4 and ball 115 to open the valve provided in part by sealing member 109. Whenever the lighter, however, is tilted away from a generally vertical position, as shown in FIG. 7, ball 115 is caused to roll by the force of gravity out of depression 1 11. This in turn prevents the force of depression of button 101 from being transmitted to plunger member 100 thereby preventing the valve from opening conduit 96. Reorientation to a generally vertical position and reactuation of lid 91 causes the valve to open as shown in FIG. 8.

It should be understood that the just described embodiments merely illustrate principles of the invention in selected, preferred forms. Many modifications may, of course, be made to the specifically described embodiments without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighter having a housing defining a main fuel reservoir and an auxiliary fuel reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air and with said main fuel reservoir; a wick extending from within said auxiliary fuel reservoir to ambient air; valve means for controlling the flow of fuel between said main fuel reservoir and said auxiliary fuel reservoir; spring means biasing said valve means towards a valve closed position; and valve actuation control means for inhibiting movement of said valve means from said valve closed position to a valve open position when said auxiliary fuel reservoir is not elevated above said main fuel reservoir and for permitting movement of said valve means from said valve closed position to a valve open position when said auxiliary fuel reservoir is elevated above said main fuel reservoir.

2. A lighter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further defines a channel having a step in an upper surface thereof, wherein said valve means ,includes a plunger disposed within said channel, and wherein said valve actuation control means includes an annulus positioned loosely about said plunger within said channel adjacent said step.

3. A lighter in accordance with claim 2 including means limiting movement of said annulus axially along said plunger.

4. A lighter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further defines an exterior portion of said lighter and a channel communicating with said exterior surface; and wherein said valve means includes a plunger disposed within said channel, a push button disposed at least partially within said channel, and a compression spring compressibly disposed between said plunger and push button.

5. A lighter in accordance with claim 4 wherein said valve actuation control means includes a ball of preselected diameter disposed adjacent said compression spring between said plunger and push button, and wherein said valve means push button has a surface facing said plunger with a lower portion of said facing surface positioned by said compression spring a first distance from said plunger approximating said preselected diameter and with an upper portion of said facing surface positioned by said compression spring a second distance from said plunger greater than said first distance.

6. A lighter in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plunger has a surface with a depression therein facing said push button, and wherein said valve actuation control means includes a ball disposed between said plunger and push button for gravitation into and out of said depression as the orientation of the lighter is altered.

7. A lighter in accordance with claim 6 wherein said push button has a surface facing said plunger with the portion of said push button facing surface closest to said plunger positioned adjacent said depression a distance approximating the diameter of said ball.

8. In a lighter having an auxiliary fuel reservoir elevated above a main fuel reservoir when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation, and valve means for controlling the transfer of fuel between reservoirs, the improvement comprising gravity sensitive valve control means for inhibiting opening of the valve means when the lighter is in a generally non-upright orientation and for permitting opening of the valve means when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation.

9. The improvement in lighters of claim 8 wherein said gravity sensitive valve control means includes a plunger having two relatively movable parts and a compression spring disposed therebetween.

10. The improvement in lighters of claim 9 further comprising a ball movably disposed between said two plunger parts in engagement with each plunger part when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation and in engagement with but one plunger part when the lighter is disposed in a generally non-vertical orientation.

11. The improvement in lighters of claim 9 wherein the lighter has a channel with a step in an upper surface thereof in which channel confronting portions of said plunger two parts are disposed, and wherein said gravity sensitive valve control means further includes a stop positioned within said channel for movement in a generally vertical plane into and out of engagement with said channel step as the orientation of the lighter is altered. 

1. A lighter having a housing defining a main fuel reservoir and an auxiliary fuel reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air and with said main fuel reservoir; a wick extending from within said auxiliary fuel reservoir to ambient air; valve means for controlling the flow of fuel between said main fuel reservoir and said auxiliary fuel reservoir; spring means biasing said valve means towards a valve closed position; and valve actuation control means for inhibiting movement of said valve means from said valve closed position to a valve open position when said auxiliary fuel reservoir is not elevated above said main fuel reservoir and for permitting movement of said valve means from said valve closed position to a valve open position when said auxiliary fuel reservoir is elevated above said main fuel reservoir.
 2. A lighter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further defines a channel having a step in an upper surface thereof, wherein said valve means includes a plunger disposed within said channel, and wherein said valve actuation control means includes an annulus positioned loosely about said plunger within said channel adjacent said step.
 3. A lighter in accordance with claim 2 including means limiting movement of said annulus axially along said plunger.
 4. A lighter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further defines an exterior portion of said lighter and a channel communicating with said exterior surface; and wherein said valve means includes a plunger disposed within said channel, a push button disposed at least partially within said channel, and a compression spring compressibly disposed between said plunger and push button.
 5. A lighter in accordance with claim 4 wherein said valve actuation control means includes a ball of preselected diameter disposed adjacent said compression spring between said plunger and push button, and wherein said valve means push button has a surface facing said plunger with a lower portion of said facing surface positioned by said compression spring a first distance from said plunger approximating said preselected diameter and with an upper portion of said facing surface positioned by said compression spring a second distance from said plunger greater than said first distance.
 6. A lighter in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plunger has a surface with a depression therein facing said push button, and wherein said valve actuation control means includes a ball disposed between said plunger and push button for gravitation into and out of said depression as the orientation of the lighter is altered.
 7. A lighter in accordance with claim 6 wherein said push button has a surface facing said plunger with the portion of said push button facing surface closest to said plunger positIoned adjacent said depression a distance approximating the diameter of said ball.
 8. In a lighter having an auxiliary fuel reservoir elevated above a main fuel reservoir when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation, and valve means for controlling the transfer of fuel between reservoirs, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING gravity sensitive valve control means for inhibiting opening of the valve means when the lighter is in a generally non-upright orientation and for permitting opening of the valve means when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation.
 9. The improvement in lighters of claim 8 wherein said gravity sensitive valve control means includes a plunger having two relatively movable parts and a compression spring disposed therebetween.
 10. The improvement in lighters of claim 9 further comprising a ball movably disposed between said two plunger parts in engagement with each plunger part when the lighter is in a generally upright orientation and in engagement with but one plunger part when the lighter is disposed in a generally non-vertical orientation.
 11. The improvement in lighters of claim 9 wherein the lighter has a channel with a step in an upper surface thereof in which channel confronting portions of said plunger two parts are disposed, and wherein said gravity sensitive valve control means further includes a stop positioned within said channel for movement in a generally vertical plane into and out of engagement with said channel step as the orientation of the lighter is altered. 